DiGirolamo, Bellefontaine Score in Orange's 4-2 Loss to Mercyhurst

Friday, October 12

Syracuse, NY

7 PM

Syracuse University

0-2-0, 0-1-0CHA

Mercyhurst

1-4-0, 1-0-0CHA

Mercyhurst

Syracuse

DiGirolamo, Bellefontaine Score in Orange's 4-2 Loss to Mercyhurst

10/12/2018 11:00:00 PM | Ice Hockey

Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Sophomore defenseman Jessica DiGirolamo and freshman forward Lauren Bellefontaine each scored their first goals of the season, but the Syracuse hockey team could not pull out a win against College Hockey America rival Mercyhurst Friday night inside Tennity Ice Pavilion, suffering a 4-2 setback. The Orange's record moves to 0-2-0 overall and 0-1-0 in CHA play with the loss.

"I liked opening up against Mercyhurst this early in the season," head coach Paul Flanagan said. "I thought it was a pretty good pace back-and-forth for the most part, but they doubled us up. They executed better. Both teams worked hard, but they executed. We had our chances. We can't dwell on it, but we have to recognize that we have to show up, we have to work hard and we have to execute."

HOW IT WAS DECIDED
After a goalless first period, Mercyhurst opened the scoring with a goal midway through the second period. The Lakers' Vilma Tanskanen's power play goal put the Orange in an early 1-0 hole, but it did not last long.

DiGirolamo scored just a minute later to even the game at one apiece, taking advantage of a power play opportunity. The sophomore's first goal of the season - and third of her career - was assisted by freshmen Bellefontine and Abby Moloughney.

🎥 | SECOND PERIOD HIGHLIGHT@jdigirolamo1! Goal! 🍊🏒 pic.twitter.com/tdnk7aohWW
— Syracuse Ice Hockey (@CuseIce) October 13, 2018

Mercyhurst extended its lead to 2-1 with a goal late in the second period. Maggie Knott's shot found the back of the net with just 50 seconds left to play, giving the Lakers a one-goal cushion entering the intermission.

Knott struck again in the third period, scoring the eventual game-winning goal with just under 14 minutes to play. Syracuse did respond with a goal of their own a few minutes later, however, as the Orange's Bellefontaine scored a power play goal, assisted by DiGirolamo and redshirt senior forward Brooke Avery, with a little over 11 minutes to go.

🎥 | THIRD PERIOD HIGHLIGHT@lalobell88! Goal! 🍊🏒 pic.twitter.com/DJ8XSuPcSM
— Syracuse Ice Hockey (@CuseIce) October 13, 2018

Bellefontaine's first career goal cut the deficit to one, but Mercyhurst would score again and shut out the Orange the rest of the way en route to a 4-2 win.

OF NOTE
The Orange had 25 shots on net, led by junior Kelli Rowswell and Moloughney. The Orange forwards each had four shots on net.

Bellefontaine and DiGirolamo shared a team-high two points, both scoring one goal and recording one assist. DiGirolamo's assist was her second this year and the 15th of her career.

Graduate student defenseman Dakota Derrer had a game-high five blocks while senior goaltender Maddi Welch made 25 saves in net.

WHAT LIES AHEAD
The Orange run it back against Mercyhurst 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, to wrap up the homestand.

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